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Wednesday, 12 July 2017

Later this year the National Retired Members and all Unite sectors will hold their conferences in Brighton. Each sector conferences determines a sector's own industrial policies provided that they are not inconsistent with the general policy and objectives of the Union - so they cannot deal with general policy or rules issues.

Delegates are normally expected to arrive the day before the conference to register, and delegates normally stay over after the conference to travel home the next day.

Each Regional Industrial Sector Committee (RISC) and National Industrial Sector Committee (NISC) is entitled to submit two motions to its sector's conference, which must be received by 20 October 2017. Delegates are normally elected from RISCs. Delegates' details must be received by 22 September 2017 (but in some cases this may need to be extended where elections from NISCs are required).

EC members are entitled to attend their own sector's conference as observers if they are not elected as delegates.

Sector conferences are only every two years, so don't miss the opportunity to set policy for your industrial sector. Even if you aren't on your RISC or NISC, there is nothing to stop you sending in a motion to your RISC and asking them to consider submitting it to the conference.

In the NHS in London, cleaners, porters and security staff employed by Serco at Barts Health NHS Trust have been striking this week and plan a further seven day strike from Tuesday 11 July followed by a 14 day strike from 25 July. The action covers Whipps Cross University Hospital, Royal London Hospital, St Bartholomew’s Hospital and Mile End Hospital. Messages of support can be sent via Unite branch secretary Len Hockey (leonardhockey789@hotmail.co.uk). Photos and videos on the strikers' Facebook group show an impressive level of participation - and that migrant workers are at the heart of fighting low pay rather than being the cause of it. Cheques payable to “Barts NHS Health Branch” can be sent to Willie Howard, Unite the Union, 33-37 Moreland St, EC1V 8BB or you can donate online to account 20344885 Sort code 60-83-01.

At the Bank of England maintenance, parlours and security workers will be taking a four day strike from 31 July.

Two things stand out from this cluster of strikes. Firstly, all are about pay - reflecting workers losing patience after years when wages were held down and prices are rising. Why should we wait to make Labour's manifesto pledge of a £10 an hour minimum wage a reality? Secondly, all are sustained action to try to win, not token or "protest" action for odd days. Nearly two years ago I pointed out that the Trade Union Act "strengthens the case for intensive action rather than relying on the disruption of odd hours or days of action". In an article yesterday Gregor Gall argues that the "predominant strategy of one-day strikes, (or a series of one-day strikes) is coming to an end". If this is the case it is not before time - token strikes have acted more as a way of letting of steam than a serious attempt to win.